Future cancer treatment at Royal Berkshire Hospital got a boost as construction began on an £8 million project.

Work has started on a new bunker as part of plans to increase capacity at the hospital’s cancer centre.

The shielded bunker will house the new linear accelerator machine and a new link area, which will connect the bunker to Berkshire Cancer Centre and to the old Isolation Ward.

The machine, which cost more than £1.5 million, will be used to deliver radiotherapy to cancer patients. It has to be built in a bunker due to the high levels of radiation it contains.

A state-of-the-art virtual reality training facility and conference centre will also be set up and the new centre will link the Royal Berks to surgeons nationally and internationally as well as to the new Royal Berkshire Bracknell Clinic, which opens in May.

The new link area will provide control functions for the linear accelerator, patient changing facilities and a patient waiting area.

The old Isolation Ward, a Grade II-listed building, will be refurbished in agreement with English Heritage, to make new consultation rooms and office areas.

The project, which will cost around £8 million, began in autumn 2008 when initial ideas and designs were considered.

Further design took place in 2009 during discussions with the planners, English Heritage and the Victorian Society. The project received planning approval early last year.

Enabling works were carried out towards the end of last year to survey the proposed construction area in order to clear and divert numerous existing underground services.

A disused building was also demolished during these works to form a new access road into the site from Redlands Road ready for the new extension.

The project and installation of the new Linear Accelerator will be complete in February 2012 and the new facility is expected to be fully operational and treating patients by the end of spring 2012.

Richard Brown, lead consultant in the hospital’s cancer centre, said: “I can’t tell you how pleased we are to see it at this stage.

“I am absolutely delighted, we’re finally safe in getting the first increase in capacity. We could not be more pleased.

“Taking forward cancer treatment starts today.”

A second linear accelerator is currently being commissioned for the new Royal Berkshire Bracknell Clinic, which will begin delivering treatment when it opens next month.